Menir da Abelhoa — Attraction in Reguengos de Monsaraz

The menhir is thought to date back to between 4000 and 2500 BCE. Overlooked for a long time, it was identified in 1970. At that time it was lying flat on the ground, with the upper part separated from its base, which had been used in a nearby grape press. It was restored to its original shape soon after discovery, with the fracture remaining very noticeable.1

It is situated on the road between the villages of Outeiro and Telheiro, on a flat area at the base of Monsaraz hill. The menhir is part of a megalithic nucleus that includes the menhirs of Monte da Ribeira and Outeiro and the Xerez Cromlech. It has a phallic appearance, being about four meters high and one meter in diameter. The stone is decorated with engravings depicting the sun's rays, a staff, and wavy and zigzagging lines. However, the fact that it lay on the ground for so long has contributed to the erosion of the carvings. It is not known whether the carvings date back to the menhir's origins or were added subsequently, although the motifs are similar to others found from the neolithic and chalcolithic eras.24[6]...

When visiting Monsaraz do go see this menhir. There is info available in English on a panel next to the parking place.

Ancient fertility (?) stone with some concentric carvings on one side of the top half of the menhir. The bottom part is not original!

In May with flowers abundant it is even more special.

Parking place and menhir are accessible to wheelchairs. The path leading to the menhir is a little bit bumpy though.

Update May 2018: the info panel is no...

Cemented together. Seems fake like a Chinese handbag. View of the castle distant and fleeting, but local wildlife friendly. Will never forgive my friend for wasting one...